Calvin Bassey: From Foxes Rookie to Premier League Rock
Five years back, he was just a struggler in Leicester City’s academy before moving to Glasgow Rangers in the summer of 2020. Super Eagles and Fulham defender, Calvin Bassey, has since emerged as one of the standout performers in the Premier League this season, with statistical data highlighting his exceptional contributions to Marco Silva’s side. According to data from PFF FC, no centre-back in the English top flight this season has a higher Ball Carry Grade than the Nigerian, who leads the category with a score of 82.9
Nigerian international Calvin Bassey has flourished in Fulham’s backline, playing a crucial role in a team that sits ninth in the league after 24 matches. The Cottagers have also progressed to the FA Cup fifth round, where they will face Manchester United after edging past Wigan Athletic.
Bassey has been a mainstay in the Fulham defence, making 23 Premier League appearances and amassing 2,070 minutes on the pitch. While his overall performances have been widely praised, a deeper look into the numbers reveals just how dominant he has been in key defensive areas.
According to data from PFF FC, no centre-back in the Premier League this season has a higher Ball Carry Grade than Calvin Bassey, who leads the category with a score of 82.9.
This metric, which evaluates a player’s dribbling, carrying ability, and resistance to tackles, typically favours midfielders, making Bassey’s ranking all the more impressive. His score places him among some of the league’s elite ball carriers, including James Maddison, Moisés Caicedo, and Youri Tielemans.
Bassey’s ability to progress the ball out of defence has been crucial for Fulham, allowing them to bypass opposition presses and transition smoothly into attacking phases. His composure under pressure and technical ability make him a vital asset in Silva’s tactical setup.
Beyond his ball-carrying ability, Bassey has been an all-round defensive powerhouse.
Fulham have conceded 32 goals this season—ranking ninth-best in the league and Bassey has played a major role in maintaining their defensive solidity.
The 24-year-old ranks third among centre-backs in tackling with an impressive grade of 85.0, placing him fifth overall in the league. He has won 37 tackles and successfully defended against 20 dribbles, boasting a 44% tackle success rate (13th overall) and winning 59% of his duels against dribblers (seventh overall).
Bassey has also been effective in aerial duels, registering a grade of 79.3, ranking him 28th among centre-backs. He has won 48 aerial duels this season, displaying his strength in physical battles and his ability to dominate in the air.
A product of Leicester City’s academy, Bassey moved to Rangers in 2020, where he won the Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup.
He played a key role in Rangers’ run to the 2022 UEFA Europa League final, where they narrowly lost to Eintracht Frankfurt.
His performances in Scotland earned him a big-money move to Ajax in 2022 for a club-record £20 million. That transfer fee also made him the most expensive Nigerian defender in history.
However, after just one season in the Eredivisie, Fulham secured his services in the summer of 2023 for €21 million.
Bassey has since adapted seamlessly to the Premier League, proving his quality at the highest level. His first goal for Fulham came in a dramatic 2-1 victory over Manchester United in February 2024 in his 20th league appearance for the London club.
Bassey was a couple of months short of his 18th birthday when he first got the chance to sample Ibrox Stadium and the young Leicester City kid left his mark in more ways than one in that 6-1 rout against the Rangers development squad.
Former Ibrox striker, Ryan Hardie felt the full force of his physicality as he was “barged off his feet and the ball”, inside the box by Bassey.
However, it was Bassey’s ability to recover that left Hardie in awe as he stood in the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium to watch his old club in the 2022 Europa League final.
Bassey recovered from a slip to make a last-ditch recovery tackle to deny Eintracht Frankfurt’s Rafael Borre.
Hardie was amazed at the 24-year-old’s desire as he kept going to the bitter end despite the stifling Seville heat.
Also, in the stadium that night was another player- Conor Tee, who featured in that game five years ago and upstaged his good friend and team-mate.
Tee recalled that game in September 2017 but believes a return match a couple of years later was the one that really convinced the Ibrox side, managed then by Steven Gerrard, to make a move.
But Bassey did enough to impress with ‘B’ team boss, David McCallum an instant admirer and the wheels were set in motion for the eventual transfer a short time later.
Bassey was picked up for around £300,000 as they took advantage of the cross-border compensation rule and that is proving a bargain with every man of the match display, with some claiming he’s now in the £25 million bracket.
Tee told Record Sport: “I went to watch Calvin in Seville and I was buzzing for him because he’s my best mate.
“It was surreal watching him in Seville on that big stage. It was a proud feeling for us and his family watching.
“There’s no question he’s good enough for the English Premier League but it’s about getting the move that suits him.
“I joined Leicester City at Under-12s and he joined at Under-16 level and we became good friends. We lived with each other in digs when we both got a scholarship and we’ve been mates ever since.
“He had all the attributes to be a top player and he’s shown that. I always felt left back was his strongest position because he’s so good at attacking.
“It’s crazy to think I was on the end of that challenge five years ago and to see how far Calvin has come.”
Born in Italy, Bassey was eligible to represent Italy, England, or Nigeria at international level. He ultimately committed to Nigeria, making his Super Eagles debut in a World Cup qualifier against Ghana in March 2022.
He played a key role as Nigeria reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire last year.
